Wrestling: 2023 Varsity Maine All-State team

Brady Ouellette, Noble freshman, 106 pounds: An experienced youth wrestler with a long frame, Ouellette served notice of his ability when he rallied from a big deficit in the final to win the Noble Invitational. The champion at the Class A South regional, Class A state meet and New England Qualifier, Ouellette completed his 38-6 season with a fifth-place finish at the New England championships.

Maddie Ripley, Oceanside junior, 106: The Varsity Maine Girls’ Wrestler of the Year for a second time, Ripley made history when she became the first girl in Maine to win an individual state title, taking the Class B crown. She then won the girls’ 107-pound title and placed fourth at the New England Qualifier. A three-sport athlete, Ripley had an overall record of 44-5.

James Blood, Sanford senior, 113: A returning Varsity Maine All-State selection (he wrestled at 106 as a junior), Blood went through the Maine season undefeated at 38-0 with titles at the Noble Invitational, Spartan Wrestling Annual Tournament, Class A South regional, Class A state meet and New England Qualifier. He then placed sixth at the New England championships, getting on the podium for a second straight season. In the last two seasons, Blood was 81-4, losing only at New Englands.

Ayden Cofone, Windham/Gray-New Gloucester/Westbrook sophomore, 120: Cofone moved up one weight class and is a repeat All-State pick. Now a two-time Class A champion, Cofone finished with a record of 45-2, sweeping regional, state and New England Qualifier titles and also prevailing at the Spartan tournament. His only losses were at the New England championships.

Julian Henderson, Camden Hills senior, 126: After winning the 120-pound Class A title as a junior, Henderson was the class of the state at 126 this winter. He earned titles at the Noble Invitational, KVAC tournament, Class A state meet and New England Qualifier before going 2-2 at the New England championships.

Gavin Ripley, Oceanside junior, 132: Ripley won his second straight Class B championship and finished the season 51-3, beating Dyllan Davis of Wells to win the South regional and state titles (Davis won the New England Qualifier final). Ripley, the twin brother of Maddie Ripley, went 2-2 at New Englands, losing to the eventual second- and fifth-place finishers and beating Davis in a consolation bout.

Kaden Dustin, Noble sophomore, 138: Dustin capped a 48-7 season by placing sixth at the New England championships, after sweeping Class A South, Class A state meet and New England Qualifier titles. His only loss in-state was to Bonny Eagle senior Trevor Perkins in the final of the Spartan tournament. Dustin beat Perkins in four other matches.

Aiden Clark, Skowhegan senior, 145: A repeat All-State pick at 145 pounds who compiled a 54-5 record, Clark swept the Class A North, Class A state meet and New England Qualifier titles for the second year in a row, then capped his 160-win career with a fourth-place finish at New Englands, when he lost his first match but then rallied to win four straight to get to the consolation final.

Derek Cote, Noble senior, 152: The 2023 Varsity Maine Boys’ Wrestler of the Year, Cote piled up a 52-4 record and completed his career unbeaten in Maine. Technically proficient, strong and well-conditioned, Cote is a three-time Class A champion and three-time All-State pick (113 in 2020, 138 in 2022) and was a key part of Noble’s state championship teams in both 2020 and 2023.

Dom Bubar, Massabesic junior, 160: Extremely strong, Bubar finished 44-5, with tournament wins at the Class A state meet and New England Qualifier. He finished the season placing sixth at New Englands, going 4-3. He also helped the Mustangs claim the Class A Dual Meet Championship.

Shea Farrell, Mt. Ararat senior, 170: A three-sport athlete, Farrell missed the first several weeks of the season while recovering from a football injury, then won his first 27 matches, with titles at the Noble Invitational, Spartan tournament, Class A North regional and Class A state meet before being upset by Windham/GNG/Westbrook’s Gavin Tanner in the finals of the New England Qualifier. Farrell intends to play baseball at Wheaton College.

Isaac Hainer, Mattanawcook Academy senior, 182: A repeat All-State pick, Hainer possesses great strength and skill. He finished the season 48-3, was unbeaten against Maine opponents, and won the Class B and New England Qualifier meets.

James Dube, Mattanawcook Academy junior, 195: After finishing fifth at the Sanford tournament, Dube raised his game and won Class B and New England Qualifier titles. He was 3-2 at the New England championships to finish with an overall record of 50-6.

Kaden Cyr, Bonny Eagle junior, 220: Cyr (33-5) gets the edge over local rival Jared Breton of Massabesic (50-4). Cyr and Breton met in five tournament finals. Cyr won at the Noble Invitational, the Class A state meet, and the New England Qualifier, the latter by pin. Breton won at the Spartan tournament and the South regional, both by pin.

Jonny Lettre, Cony junior, 285: An All-State pick at 220 as a sophomore, Lettre won the Class A title and then pinned Class B champion Nathan Malloy of Wells in the New England Qualifier final, and again in the consolation rounds of the New England championships. Lettre finished with a 44-4 record.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Scott Lewia, Wells: Lewia had already created a strong program, guiding the Warriors to four straight Class B titles from 2017-20. This year, Wells went to a different level, reclaiming the Class B title with six individual champions and a 181-to-63.5 advantage over second-place Belfast. Wells also showed it could stack up with any program in the state when it placed second to Danbury, Connecticut, at the Spartan tournament, and the Warriors were unbeaten in dual meets.